published: Friday, November 06, 2009

Thanks for the loyalty ... not!

Thanks for the loyalty ... not!

FRANK JOLLEY

Sports Columnist

How lucky we are to live in Lake and Sumter counties.

We've got weather, plenty of outside activities available, and three NFL teams within 275 miles of our front doors.

Compared to other places, like Washington D.C., sports fans here live in paradise.

Because we're here and not there, we aren't subjected to the whims of a team owner who makes Mephistopheles look like a saint.

I read several stories this week out of our nation's capital about the Washington Redskins suing fans who signed season-ticket contracts with the team. The downturn in the economy, the depths of which hasn't been seen since the 1970s, has forced many Redskins fans to give up their ducats in order to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads.

Rather than understanding their fans' plight and voiding their contracts, team owner Daniel Snyder -- who has raised ineptitude to a new level -- took many of the them to court.

Among those victimized by the "Deadskins" was a 73-year-old grandmother, whose real estate practice went bust when the bottom fell out of the nation's housing market. She had been a season-ticket holder for more than 40 years. She was, by all accounts, the definition of a loyal fan -- her home was filled with Redskins memorabilia, including rugs she hooked by hand and a music box that plays "Hail to the Redskins."

Instead of thanking her for the years of loyalty, Snyder, a billionaire, sent his legal vultures after her.

The grandmother couldn't afford an attorney. Since her business went under, she's living on $3,600 a month from a government pension and social security. Her mortgage payment is more than $5,000 a month.

"I'm $100,000 behind," she told the Washington Post.

Despite her financial struggles, this grandmother has helped countless people in need. She lent $20,000 to a veteran of the Iraq war so he wouldn't lose his house. According to the Washington Post, she also has given $60,000 to $70,000 to help others pay their mortgages.

Nevertheless, the "Deadskins" took her to court and won a default judgment of more than $66,000.

And this grandmother is not alone. The "Deadskins" have sued 125 season-ticket holders over the past five years.

Thanks Dan Snyder and Co.

Buy yourself another crystal chandelier out of petty cash while you hang a grandmother, who has spent countless thousands of dollars supporting your team, out to dry.

The "Deadskins" also sued an investigator with the Department of Homeland Security and won a judgment of more than $15,000. A contractor at the team's headquarters was also sued and the team won a judgment $209,351.

Others who were sued managed to reach a settlement with the "Deadskins". After leaving his family's construction business, one man told the team he could no longer afford to pay for two seats at $7,800 per year.

He was hoping the "Deadskins" would renegotiate the six-year contract he signed in 2005. In other words, he didn't want out of paying the tab for his tickets -- he just wanted some relief in light of the economy.

"People can work out their mortgage, but these guys were like, 'No, we're taking you to court,'" the man told the Washington Post. "I don't think they gave me a fair shake, especially being what the economy was. If it was high times and everyone was making money, I would understand."

The "Deadskins" eventually agreed to a settlement. The man paid $12,000 and the team ate the balance of the remaining $30,000.

This man -- who tried to do the right thing -- is paying nearly $1,000 a month for tickets he doesn't have.

Maybe this is why the "Deadskins" are beginning to rival the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams as the league's laughing stocks.

A franchise that overcame the racist ways of owner George Preston Marshall -- who didn't have an African-American player on the team's roster until 1962 when government officials threatened to revoke the "Deadskins" lease on D.C. Stadium (now known as RFK Stadium) -- to enjoy considerable success in the 1970s and 1980s should know better than to draw a line in the sand with its fans.

The "Deadskins" claim to have a waiting list for season tickets that is 160,000-people long. Rather than suing a grandmother for money she doesn't have, why not simply write her off and go to the next person on the list?

Despite claims from Snyder's legal vultures that all pro football teams sue their fans, nine NFL franchises told the Washington Post that they do not sue fans over season-ticket contracts. Included among those are the Green Bays Packers, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars.

What a sad story and how lucky are we that we don't live in D.C.? No matter what our complaints are about Lake and Sumter counties, no one here is being sued by a millionaire who's looking to upgrade his silver spoon to platinum.

And Snyder will be able to do that, soon. In spite of the "Deadskins" current struggles on the field (it seems that Snyder has as much football knowledge as he has compassion), he is raking in money by the truckload.

Remember those tickets grandma tried to give back, only to get sued for the money they were worth?

Snyder sold them to other fans or to ticket agencies. That's right. He sued the grandmother for the money and then turned a profit by selling the tickets to someone else.

And the "Deadskins" are doing that with every season-ticket package judgment they win.

Capitalism at its finest?

The antics of Snyder makes our weather seem a little better, our recreational activities abound, and putrid football teams in Tampa and Jacksonville seem almost bearable.

At least we're out of reach of the "Danny and the Deadskins."

Frank Jolley is a sports columnist with the Daily Commercial. Write to him at frankjolley@dailycommercial.com.